Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-05
From Washington.


Darkies than the Fourth of July. A
stenographic report of the speeches de-
livered in the hearing of the writer of
this letter and the editor of the HERALD
on this day, 1880. would be worth pub.
fishing if we had it
EDITOR HERALD: The observance of |
Emancipation day here last week re-
minded me of a similar occasion some |
years ago in the Land of Flowers and |
also of my promise to write letter to
the HERALD.
The anniversary of the day upon which
the slaves in the District of Columbia
were liberated. is great day for colored
people, and the most elaborate prepar-
alton had been made for celebrating the
twenty-fifth anniversary on Monday last,
and had it not been for the inclemency
of the weather, there is no doubt but
that the parade would have been the most
gorgeous affair ever given by the col
ored people of the District. The original
plan contemplated review by the
President of the White House at twelve
o'clock, but it was late in the afternoon
before the procession was formed and
during the entire march the rain fell in
torrents. 1t can readily be imagined
that by the time the White House grounds
were reached the procession presented a
sorry appearance. The ram had COM
pletely wilted the bright colored BAN
ners, uniforms and sashes, and the
Queen of Love and Beauty" who was
to have ridden among her maids of honor
upon gaily decked wagon, was con-
signed to a huge covered omnibus.
Among the features of the parade were
colored military organizations of Wash
ington, which were out in full force
despite the rain, and they presented
very creditable appearance. The Pres
ident reviewed the parade from the
|portico, and saluted the Marshal as he
passed by removing his hat. The ex-
ercises of the day were brought to
close by an evening meeting held in Lin
coin Memorial Church. An admission
fee of fifteen cents had been charged to
the evening meeting but when Col. Wi Il
liams the orator of the evening learned
of the fact he declared that he would
leave the hall if the money was not re-
turned, and the admission fee was given
back to each person in attendance before
the exercises of the evening were COM
menced The meeting was well attended
and the proceedings were interesting.
At no time during the history of
Washington has there existed such
spirit of activity in real estate interests,
as at the present time. All of the
available land in the immediate vicinity
of the city has been divided into building
lots, new streets are being laid out and
city streets extended and improved.
Values have advanced so rapidly that
real estate agents have been kept busy in
making up" prices and the working
force in the office of the Recorder of
deeds has been compelled to work extra
hours in order 20 keep up with the cur
rent work. That this boom is not en-
tirely in the interests of spectators, is
evinced by the fact that many of the
,,,,.obosa~a have o<x,n,,,aroad 4ba araot;oY,
of houses. Buildings are sPriuging up
like magic in all sections of the city,
and very many of them are costly
edifices which are to furnish homes for
wealthy people from all sections of the
country, Nor is the spirit Of activity
confined to private parties alone. The
liberality of congress in providing ap-
preparations for the erection of Govern
ment buildings, and the improvement Of
parks and public grounds has rendered
it possible to carry into effect many i'm
provements long since contemplated,
but which have not until now been car
ried out on account of lack of available
funds. The work of clearing the site
for the new Congressional Library
building is nearly complete and work
upon the excavation for the foundation
will be commenced at once. The mar
BILE terrace about the Capital building
will soon be finished, and force of
laborers have been set at work upon the
foundation of the grand staircase which
is to be built at the west front of
the building. The new fire-proof build
ing which is being built for the Army
Medical Museum, and Medical Library
of the Surgeon Generals Office will soon
be completed.
The bronze statue of Ex-President Jas.
A. Gafield which is to be unveiled on the
18th of May, has been placed upon its
pedestal at the Maryland Avenue en-
trance to the Capital grounds, and is
considered to be one of the finest of the
pieces of satuary in the Ma
tional Capital. H.
Washington. d. c., April "a, 1887.
Sixth Wisconsin Battery Reunion.